Google Introduces AI Opportunity Initiative For The MENA

Google has introduced the AI Opportunity Initiative for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), marking its largest program centered on artificial intelligence (AI) to date in the region.

The initiative aims to provide foundational AI skills, research funding, and increased access to AI-based tools to half a million individuals in the first two years. With a pledge of US$15 million from Google.org, the company’s philanthropic arm, the initiative aims to advance AI literacy and accessibility across the MENA region by the end of 2027. 

The AI Opportunity Initiative was announced at the AI Connect event at the Etihad Museum in Dubai, attended by UAE officials, including HE Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications. 

Google has provided digital skills training to three million individuals in the MENA region since 2018. Over the next two years, the initiative seeks to provide AI-related training to an additional 500,000 people, equipping them for an evolving digital economy. 

At the Google AI Connect Event, Ruth Porat, president and chief information officer (CIO) of Alphabet and Google, said: “Google’s long-standing investments in the Middle East and North Africa have helped equip people and organizations with the connectivity, innovation, and skilling required to thrive in the global digital economy. AI is estimated to contribute $320 billion in economic growth for the Middle East by 2030, and Google is working to ensure that people and communities throughout the region have the skills needed to capture the upside of this emerging technology.” 

As part of its focus on foundational skills, Google is introducing new educational resources, including an Arabic-language AI curriculum to cover topics like prompt engineering. This curriculum is part of "Maharat min Google," Google’s digital skills program in Arabic, and will be offered on Coursera.  

In addition, the initiative focuses on reaching underserved communities, including women, youth, migrants, and people living in rural areas across 11 countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Morocco. 

To support these communities, Google has partnered with Village Capital, a non-profit that helps early-stage entrepreneurs work on solutions for social, economic, and environmental challenges.  

With a grant from Google.org, Village Capital will work with local Business Support Organizations (BSOs) to provide AI training for these groups. 

Allie Burns, CEO of Village Capital commented, “We are excited about the potential of this initiative to support communities across the region. By equipping local Business Support Organizations with the tools, training, and mentorship they need, we are creating a ripple effect that will drive innovation and economic opportunities. This initiative is about unlocking new pathways for underserved populations, enabling them to shape the future with cutting-edge AI skills.” 

Furthermore, Google’s initiative includes an AI education program developed in partnership with Google DeepMind and the Raspberry Pi Foundation, a global non-profit focused on computing education for young people. This program, known as Experience AI, will train teachers in AI literacy to help students ages 11 to 14 understand AI technologies and their applications. The program will be available in the UAE and Saudi Arabia in collaboration with Amideast. 

Alongside skills training, Google plans to support regional research projects by providing grants to universities and startups working on AI applications in healthcare, climate change, and education. Through the AI Research Fund, Google.org will offer funding to researchers working on AI solutions relevant to the region’s needs. 

The initiative includes a healthcare-focused effort, led by startAD, the Abu Dhabi-based startup accelerator associated with New York University. Supported by a Google.org grant, startAD will develop AI tools to improve healthcare access for vulnerable populations, including senior citizens, low-income individuals, and disadvantaged youth in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. 

Rami Aljundi, assistant director of innovation programs at startAD said: "Our vision at startAD aligns perfectly with Google's mission to harness AI as a force for good. Together, we're building a foundation for long-term AI-enabled impact, focusing on crucial areas like healthcare, sustainability, and economic empowerment. This initiative marks a pivotal step in a larger movement, one where AI's potential is realized not just for technological advancement but for creating a more equitable and prosperous future for all."

Also, Google has introduced new Arabic-language features for Gemini, its AI-based personal assistant, first released in Arabic in July 2023. These features include "Gems on Gemini," which allows users to create tailored AI-driven advisors for tasks such as career support, learning, and coding. This tool is available for Gemini Advanced users. 

For younger users, Google has released "Gemini for Teens," an AI experience that includes safety features like double-checking responses for accuracy. The program also includes "Imagen3 in Arabic," which allows image generation from Arabic text prompts, and "Gemini Live in Arabic," a conversational tool available on Android devices. 

Moreover, the Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia and Google Cloud have announced a strategic collaboration to establish a global AI hub near Dammam. This new AI hub is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader goal to expand its information and communication technology (ICT) sector by 50 percent. 

As part of this collaboration, Google Cloud will provide its advanced AI technology to enable businesses across a range of industries to adopt AI-driven solutions. This will allow companies to enhance productivity, efficiency, and overall growth, benefiting both enterprises and end consumers with improved quality and faster access to AI applications and data services.  

The planned hub will also serve as a center for Arabic-language AI research, fostering advancements tailored specifically to the Saudi market.